Toys R Us Interview Questions & Tips

Hiring process information for an interview at Toys R Us

With more than 800 stores nationwide, Toys R Us constantly has job openings to fill. The prevalent chain of toy stores conducts hiring throughout the year, with demand for new employees traditionally peaking just before the holiday shopping season. In order to hire new associates quickly and efficiently, Toys R Us generally interviews job seekers in group settings to start. Most entry-level applicants and some managerial candidates begin the Toys R Us interview process by participating in a group session with other potential workers. Following the group interview, Toys R Us hiring managers usually interview applicants one-on-one to complete the process. Many job seekers interviewing for management positions meet with panels of Toys R Us district managers and human resources officials instead of starting with group interview sessions.

Toys R Us group interviews typically screen between two and ten candidates at a time and often take a couple hours to complete. Interviewees normally start the session by making introductions to the rest of the group and describing personal employment histories. Toys R Us hiring managers may also ask applicants to reveal favorite childhood toys or movies. The rest of the group interview consists of interactive teambuilding exercises designed to test the interpersonal and sales skills of job seekers. Candidates frequently have to work together to construct a toy out of building blocks and give a presentation of the finished creation. Interviewees also regularly select a toy from the store and pretend to sell the item to a fellow applicant. Immediately after the group session, candidates meet with the Toys R Us hiring manager individually for an additional, one-on-one interview.

During the 1:1 meetings with prospective employees, Toys R Us interviewers mainly ask questions pertaining to personality traits and schedule availability. "Why should I hire you?" ranks among the most common Toys R Us interview questions. Other queries often fielded during Toys R Us interviews ask applicants about work ethics, attendance at other jobs, and any outside commitments affecting the ability to work flexible schedules. Depending on how well candidates perform throughout the Toys R Us interview process, individual sessions may end with offers of employment contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Managerial job seekers frequently go through multiple rounds of phone and panel interviews instead of the Toys R Us group interview to begin the process. Prospective managers typically respond to more open-ended interview questions focusing on the skills required to lead a successful toy store. Toys R Us interviewers often ask questions like, "What was the most challenging issue you faced in your career and how did you overcome it?" and "Can you describe a time when you had to juggle competing priorities?" to see how effectively aspiring managers deal with problems and multitask. Toys R Us hiring managers also commonly inquire about the techniques interviewees use to develop, discipline, motivate, and generally lead subordinate employees. The Toys R Us hiring process for managers often includes at least three rounds of interviews.

Interview Tips from a Toys R Us Hiring Manager

Video Transcript

Interviewer: What qualities do you look for in an applicant?Toys R Us Hiring Manager: I’m going to first look for personality. Then, I’m going to look for the availability of their schedule. For that type of business, you need to make sure they have an open availability because it changes with the season, and it changes with the day-to-day. That’s what I’m going to look for first. Not being the actual manager who had the final say, I only got to put a little bit of input.

Interviewer: What kind of answers do you look for in an interview?Toys R Us Hiring Manager: Just that they’re willing to be there every day and on time. If it’s a young person coming out of high school, I’ll ask them about their attendance record. How many times were they late coming to school? How many days of school did you miss? I mean, I can’t pre-judge – because when you’re an adult, it’s a little bit different – but still I want to know a little bit about what you did in high school. That way, I can judge what type of person and get a feel for you at that point.

Interviewer: How can an interviewee tell if the interview went well?Toys R Us Hiring Manager: You can generally. It’s more of just a feel. They’ll ask if they answer the questions fully. The clue-in is if they say, “I have to talk to my manager, and I will be calling you back for a second interview.” And usually, when they say they’re going to call back for a second interview, generally, you have that job on the second interview because they’ve already made their decision from the first interview.

Interviewer: What should an applicant do to prepare for an interview?Toys R Us Hiring Manager: Be familiar with the company. Know their product, know what they’re selling, know just how to walk into the store on a regular day and see what it’s like. Make sure you’ve been there before, so you can almost anticipate some of the questions they’re going to ask you.

Interviewer: What should an applicant do after leaving the interview?Toys R Us Hiring Manager: What should they do? Make sure you thank them for their time, and if it’s been maybe a couple of days and you haven’t heard back from them, call and follow up on the interview. Tell them that: “Hey, I wanted to thank you for your time and for interviewing me. I was wondering if you guys had made a decision on the position yet.” Follow through. You put in the application, just follow through with it. Then, they know you really want to work there. Maybe that could be the deciding factor of whether or not they want to hire you.

Toys R Us Manager Interview Video

Video Transcript

Interviewer: Please describe your job title and primary duties.Toys R Us Manager: My primary duties with Toys R Us… I started out as a sales associate during the seasonal period, which is generally where they start getting their permanent employees. I worked my way up to a customer service representative for them.

Interviewer: What was the work environment like?Toys R Us Manager: It was fun because it was during the holidays. Yes, it was busy, but we had a lot of fun. It was open for 24 hours at that point in time, and third shift, believe it or not, does get busy. It’s actually fun.

Interviewer: What was your favorite part about working there?Toys R Us Manager: The third shift duties. I was one of the few that actually like doing third shift. That’s where I started, and that’s one of the few things I enjoyed there.

Interviewer: Please describe a typical day as an employee.Toys R Us Manager: A typical day for a normal day shift employee was – obviously, you would come in, clock in. They would assign you a particular area of the store, and that was the area that you helped customers. You kept it clean, put stuff back on shelves. If they got busy, they would call you up to do the registers at that point. That was pretty much the typical.

Interviewer: How would you describe the application and interview process?Toys R Us Manager: The application and interview process with them is a little more detailed because they will do a psychological test, they will do a math test, then they will do a credit background check for whatever godly reason that is, and they will put you through that. You’ll do the first interview with the math test and one manager. Then, they’ll call you back for the second interview, where they’ll do the psychological test and then they’ll offer you the job at that point. Then, they’ll do the credit score after you are hired for the job, conditionally based on that.

Interviewer: What questions did the interviewer ask during the job interview?Toys R Us Manager: At first, obviously, they wanted to know your name, where you live, what kind of background you have, if you have any experience with it. The big thing in Ohio is if you’ve ever been convicted of any felony or any theft charge – they want to know that upfront. They don’t necessarily not hire you based on that, but depending on how long ago it was, they could bar you from that. They want to know if you’re willing to work weekends, holidays, night shifts, if they can call you in, would they be in seasonal because that’s where they pull everyone that they hire. They want to make sure you’re willing to stay throughout the season because come January eleventh, when they start dong inventory, is the decision if you get to stay. And, if you’re going to do what they ask you, you’re going to become a permanent employee at that point in time.

Interviewer: What other advice would you give to a job seeker looking to gain employment?Toys R Us Manager: The big thing is the customer service representatives will look over your application first before they pass it on. Do not come in there dressed in shorts, t-shirts, tank tops. Do not ask them to borrow a pen. Take your own with you because that will be a first sign. I’ve had managers ask, “Well, did they bring their own pen?”, and right in the trash. “How did they look?”, their personality, “Did they look high?” The managers will get a feel from you, what your thoughts are before they even look at that application.

More Toys R Us Interview Videos:

Can you help me decide how to dress for an interview? I really want to get the job, but I can’t decide what to wear. I am a man. Also, do they want to know about my education? I have high school and some college?
Thanks.

Yeah dress as nice as you possibly can. I don’t think there is a way to “under-dress” for an important interview. You could say that the better you look and the more prepared you are, the more that says you want the job.

If you are a male you should wear dress pants, a dress shirt and more then likely a tie. If you are a female you should wear either dress pants or a formal skirt or something along those lines, a nice and maybe formal shirt and some nice dress shoes.

You should expect them to ask what kind of education you have had. What are your skills you have and what you can do. What kind of pay you would like. Some advie on that don’t say a number say ‘open’ or negotiate. um what else would they as. over all just be honest on when they ask you the questions and when you fill out the form. And if the question doesn’t apply to you put N/A.

They don’t care if you have a goatee or not. I worked at Toys R Us for 5 years. The whole time I was there I had a full beard that I kept neat and trim and they never said a word. I also had (and still have) long, shoulder length hair that I always wore in a neat ponytail at work. I also dressed as neatly as possible with my shirt tucked in at all times. They never cared about my hair and beard because I looked neater and cleaner than other guys there who had short hair and no facial hair. Its all about your over all appearance.

I was just hired by TRU. Interview is business casual. Expect some odd things but fun! First, it’s usually a group interview. Brush up on your paper airplaine making skills and lego building. After group interviews, it’s one on one. Have an open schedule and they will love you (use you). Their company policy is red polo’s with black slacks or khakis. Body piericings are not allowed with the exception of ears, tatoos are not to be seen. Hope it helps. Good Luck!

I have always appreciated how Toys ‘R Us incorporates fun into its work environment as well as upholding a respectable and knowledgeable staff. From a consumer’s/ customer’s point of view, I understand the importance of the staff having a clean and well-managed appearance. It makes an easily interpreted statement of the individual’s degree of self-awareness and hygiene as well as the company’s impression of an excellent employee.
As a hopefully potential employee of Toys R Us, I can easily agree with the company’s views on facial piercings as it represents a lifestyle that some parents may find awkward to explain to their children depending on their personal views. While the employee has the right to express themselves as an adult, I agree it is certainly not relevant to the company’s business or professional interests. I have facial piercings myself, yet I feel it is appropriate business etiquette to exclude them from an employee’s appearance, and I have no issue with removing the jewelry before going to work.
However, I am curious as to what Toys R Us policies are when it comes to dyed hair. I have seen tasteful and tactful hairstyles on some albeit few Toys R Us staff members that include vibrant colors before, yet when I began to research the company’s work ethic and policies I have not been able to find any resources that could provide insight into the standards held for acceptable hair color. Perhaps I haven’t been looking in the right places, but could someone please help to clarify? I’m sure that information will help not only myself, but other future Toys ‘R Us staff as well! 🙂

i have a couple of noticeable tattoos,
one from my wrist up to my elbow, another one on my chest, and one on my hand (inbetween my thumb and index finger)
do you believe that’ll stop me from getting hired?

ana, absolutely, just be ridiculously outgoing and friendly and really try to understand what makes good customer service, even if you dont know how to do it, just make connections with questions they may ask you to similar experiences that you may have previously faced… What I’m saying is be interesting, don’t bore them but talk a lot. It’s what got me in, and I have no “On-Paper” previous experience.